Podcast
Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel
Hosted by Rachel Uchitel · EN
New episodes every Tuesday at 12am EST
New Patreon episodes every Saturday at 12pm EST
This podcast will delve into the lives of those who have been reduced to a single headline. Each episode will take a closer look at the stories of those who are on a mission to change their narrative. Through raw and honest interviews, we will reveal the human behind the headline. Join me, as we uncover the truth behind the misconceptions, shed light on the stories of those who have perhaps been wrongfully portrayed, explore the complexities of the human experience, and celebrate the power of second chances.
90episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Little Pedophile on the Prairie; AJ Benza Breaks Down This Week’s Hottest Gossip
Jan 1601:08:00Summary readyOG gossip columnist and Fame Is a Bitch host AJ Benza returns to break down the wildest celebrity gossip and Hollywood controversies making headlines this week, including the shocking child sex abuse charges involving Timothy Busfield, husband of Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert, the explosive drama and whispered scandals surrounding Members Only Palm Beach, and the latest developments in the growing allegations tied to Sean “Diddy” Combs, along with candid conversations about Tyler Perry, Will Smith, and the shifting narratives around sexuality in Hollywood. We also dive into new allegations surrounding Julio Iglesias, media silence versus pile-ons, and why power, fame, and protection always seem to go hand in hand. As always, AJ delivers his unfiltered, controversial, and often hilarious take on celebrity news, pop culture scandals, Hollywood insiders, and the stories everyone is talking about—but few are willing to say out loud.--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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From Autistic Outcast to Prime Time Anchor & The Father Who Made It Happen | Leland Vittert
Jan 1200:54:56Summary readyWhen I started reading Leland Vittert's book Born Lucky, I wasn't expecting to cry. I don't know anyone with autism, and honestly, I didn't think it would resonate with me. But within pages, I was in tears—because his story of feeling different, misunderstood, and alone is something I've carried my whole life. Leland was born with the umbilical cord around his neck, diagnosed autistic at 8, and told by doctors there was "not much you could do." His father quit his job and did something radical: no medications, no accommodations, no labels—just thousands of hours coaching his son through hell. Teachers mocked him in class, kids bullied him relentlessly, and his kindergartner sister held his hand while he cried walking home every day. What Leland didn't know until writing this book was that his father went downstairs alone every night and cried until 2am.In 2020, Leland lost everything in three months. Fox News fired him after he questioned Trump's stolen election claims (Lachlan Murdoch literally sent an email saying "Leland's done"), he ended an 8-year relationship, and he nearly died from COVID. His father told him the same thing he'd said in 8th grade: "You can do this." The lesson Leland learned as a bullied kid became his survival guide as an adult—you get out of hell by keep walking. He joined NewsNation and met his wife on a blind date his second day of work. His father almost refused to publish the book because it was "too raw," but wrote the afterword in one hour. When Leland read it, he sobbed.What nobody knows about Leland is that he's still autistic. Communication doesn't come naturally—it's a skill his father taught him through years of practice. When his NewsNation talent coach asked why emotional connection was so hard, he finally told her: "I'm autistic." She had no idea. We also talk about the accommodation crisis destroying kids today—40% of Stanford students now claim disabilities, and we're medicating 3-year-olds into dependency. This isn't a story about curing autism. It's about a father who chose to walk through hell with his son instead of taking the pain away. And it's proof that love, not accommodations, changes lives.--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Inside Members Only: Taja Abitbol Reveals the Truth Behind the Palm Beach Power Wars
Jan 901:00:12Summary readyEverybody is talking about Netflix’s new hit reality series Members Only: Palm Beach, and cast member Taja Abitbol joins us to give the inside scoop. Taja breaks down how she was cast on the show, what really happened behind the scenes, and the drama viewers didn’t see on camera — including her ongoing rift with Gale Brophy. She also opens up about navigating Palm Beach’s elite social hierarchy, her perspective on who really runs Palm Beach, and life as the long-term partner of MLB legend David Cone, balancing public scrutiny with private reality in one of the most exclusive worlds in America.--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Buying a Diamond? What You Need to Know About Lab-Grown vs. Real Diamonds with Watch King NYC
Jan 101:00:20Summary readyIf you think this episode is just about diamonds, think again. In this in-person conversation, Moshe—known to millions as Watch King NYC—joins me to break down one of the most misunderstood debates in luxury today: lab-grown versus natural diamonds, what actually holds value, and what buyers should really be paying attention to.But behind the expertise is a story most people don’t know. Moshe opens up about his life before the watches and the following—growing up in a deeply religious Jewish household, becoming a rabbi, and later losing everything through addiction and financial collapse. At one point, he was homeless. What followed was a complete reinvention and the creation of the empire people now see online.We talk candidly about luxury as an investment, the psychology of status, and how misinformation—especially around diamonds—can cost people far more than money. This conversation blends hard-earned personal experience with real-world expertise, offering both clarity and perspective for anyone thinking about buying a watch, a diamond, or redefining success altogether.In this episode, we discuss: • Lab-grown vs. natural diamonds: what actually matters when buying • Common misconceptions about diamond value and resale • Whether luxury watches are truly an investment • Moshe’s journey from rabbi to rock bottom to rebuilding an empire • What people misunderstand about wealth, status, and reinventionGuest:Moshe, aka Watch King NYCInstagram: @watchkingnycIf you’re considering an engagement ring, a luxury purchase, or simply questioning what real value looks like, this episode delivers insight you won’t get from a showroom—or an Instagram feed.--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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From the Bronx with Scars: Vinny Cuevas on Survival, Loyalty, and Redemption
Dec 2900:43:08Summary readyVinny Cuevas grew up Cuban and Puerto Rican in the South Bronx, where survival wasn’t a metaphor — it was a daily calculation. In his raw and unflinching memoir From the Bronx with Scars, Vinny traces a life shaped by violence, loyalty, betrayal, fatherhood, and devastating loss. This episode is not about glorifying the streets — it’s about what it costs to survive them, and what it takes to rewrite your story when the scars don’t disappear.In this episode, we talk about: • What the “scars” in From the Bronx with Scars really represent • Growing up in the South Bronx and what survival looked like day to day • How Vinny understood power as a kid — and how that definition changed • The pull of the streets and why it felt like the only option • Loyalty, betrayal, and the price of trusting the wrong people • The moment Vinny knew he had to change his life • Fatherhood, grief, and losing a child — and how that loss reshaped his purpose • Why people still misunderstand him — and what they get wrong • Advice for anyone who feels trapped by their past • What redemption actually looks like when you’ve lived through real traumaThis conversation is about identity, accountability, and the courage it takes to stop surviving and start choosing something more.Vinny’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Bronx-Scars-Lessons-Streets-Raised-ebook/dp/B0FHKTJS4H🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel — especially if this episode made you think differently about what it means to be misunderstood.--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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From the Streets of Uganda to Saving Lives: Peter Mutabazi’s Journey of Hope, Family & Second Chances
Dec 2601:06:27Summary readyThis week on Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel, we sit down with one of the most inspiring people you’ll ever meet — Peter Mutabazi, a man who went from surviving the streets of Uganda to becoming one of America’s leading voices in foster care and adoption.Abandoned as a child and left to fend for himself, Peter’s life could have ended before it began. Instead, he chose to rewrite his story — building a life dedicated to giving kids the love and stability he never had. Today, as a foster dad, advocate, and motivational speaker, Peter has opened his home and heart to countless children, proving that one person’s compassion can change everything.In this powerful conversation, Peter and Rachel explore:What it’s really like growing up with nothing — and finding purpose through painHow he built a home for children who’ve lost theirsWhy the foster care system needs more heroes, not perfectionWhat true healing looks like when love replaces fear🎧 Tune in for an episode that reminds us what resilience, kindness, and second chances can do — and why Peter Mutabazi’s story is one the world needs right now.--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Fearless: Former FBI Leader Gina L. Osborn on Power, Labels & Leadership
Dec 2200:50:53Summary readyIn this episode, Rachel sits down with Gina L. Osborn, former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge and host of the podcast Making Maverick Moves, to unpack why strong women in leadership are so often misunderstood, mislabeled, and silenced — even at the highest levels of power.After nearly three decades in U.S. Army counterintelligence and the FBI, Gina knows firsthand how fear, insecurity, and outdated systems shape who gets labeled a leader… and who gets called “difficult.”Gina Osborn IG: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
SummaryEscaping a Polygamous Cult: Pamela Jones on the Rules That Trapped Her — and the Escape That Set Her Free
Dec 1801:32:04Summary readyPamela Jones was born into a polygamous Mormon cult in Mexico — a closed system built on obedience, fear, and silence. Married at just fifteen years old and raising nine children inside a world that offered women no education, no independence, and no exit plan, Pamela spent years believing escape was impossible.At thirty-four, she proved herself wrong.With two cars, two tanks of gas, and no safety net, Pamela fled across the Mexican border with her children and started over in Minnesota with less than a fifth-grade education and no resources. What followed is a story of resilience few people can imagine — and even fewer achieve.Today, Pamela is the founder of a multimillion-dollar company. She’s a mother of nine, a grandmother to thirty-one, and a living example of what’s possible after control, trauma, and poverty.This episode is about breaking cycles, reclaiming power, and understanding that freedom isn’t given — it’s taken.In this episode, we discuss: • What life inside a polygamous cult actually looked like • Why fear was used as a tool of control • Being married at fifteen and raising nine children without autonomy • What finally gave Pamela the courage to escape • Starting over with nothing — financially, emotionally, and practically • Building a multimillion-dollar business without formal education • Motherhood, legacy, and breaking generational cycles • What freedom really means after a lifetime without it🎧 Listen now for a story of survival, strength, and the power of choosing yourself — even when the cost feels unbearable.--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Finding Susan Powter: Stop the Insanity and the Life That Followed
Dec 1601:49:07Summary readySusan Powter was everywhere in the ’90s — the shaved head, the voice, the phrase “Stop the Insanity.” She built a massive fitness empire and became a cultural force almost overnight… and then she disappeared.A new documentary, Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter, finally asks the question so many people never did: what actually happened to her after the fame faded? When I watched it, I was stunned to learn where her life led — and I knew I needed to speak with her directly.Susan joins me for an honest, in-depth conversation about where she came from, how she rose to fame, what went wrong, and what her life looks like now. We break down the documentary everyone is talking about — and go deeper into the parts that weren’t shown.--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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From USC to Cocaine Quarterback: Owen Hanson on Power, Prison, and Starting Over
Dec 1201:15:37Summary readyOwen Hanson, the subject of the hit Amazon docuseries Cocaine Quarterback produced by Mark Wahlberg, takes us through his entire life — where it started, where it went wrong, and what it was like from the inside, juggling illegal sports betting, drug dealing, money laundering, and ultimately trying to run what became a large-scale criminal operation. Owen joins us in studio to break down the rise, the fall, and what life looks like now on the other side.--- --- —VISIT OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!ROGERS HOOD APOTHECARYGo to rogershood.com and use code RACHEL at checkout for 10% OFF--- --- ---PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelShop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=enFollow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitelExecutive Producer: George Carmona Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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